Establishment and operation of student-staff consultative committees

Student-Staff Consultative Committees provide a forum for the Program Team and students enrolled in that program to:

• review the effectiveness of the implementation of the Program Plan;
• contribute to the continual quality improvement of the Program; and
• ensure a holistic, student-centered learning environment

n/a

The functions of the Committee are to:

• highlight and share examples of good practice;
• monitor the delivery of the Program against the program plan;
• monitor the delivery of courses against course guides;
• monitor the workload of students undertaking the program;
• consider suggestions for modification and improvement to the program;
• consider and seek to resolve problems which are of concern to students undertaking the program;
• make recommendations to appropriate managers on matters requiring action that the Committee cannot resolve directly

The Committee should not consider grievances between students and staff. These should be handled under the Student Complaints Policy and Procedure, or relevant regulation, such as Student Discipline or Faculty Appeals Committee

Head of School (in consultation with Associate PVCs, Learning and Teaching)

3.1 Schools are expected to determine the most effective way in which Student Staff Consultative Committees will represent programs. For example, Schools may wish to establish a Student Staff Consultative Committee for:

• each program; or
• each stream within a program where there are disjoint streams; or
• a group of related programs; or
• all year levels of a program/group of programs; or
• each year level of a program/group of programs
• each location

Alternatively Staff Student Consultative Committee meetings may be via an online forum in circumstances where it can be demonstrated that this approach sustains or increases student participation.

Head of School

4.1 Student representatives should be elected by and from the students in the program or year level as determined by the approved membership for the program Student Staff Consultative Committee.

4.3 Consideration should be given to gender balance and the mix of student representation.

5.1 The composition of the Student-Staff Consultative Committee membership is be dependent upon the manner in which the committee is established as per Paragraph 4 above, and should be determined by the Head of School but should include:

(a) the Program Leader/Coordinator or Head of School;

(b) the course coordinator or nominee for each compulsory course, whether offered by the home School or another School;

(c) equal numbers of staff and student representatives; and

(d) gender balance and cultural diversity.

Head of School

6.1 Information about Student-Staff Consultative Committees should be provided to students at the time of (re) enrolment or during orientation or during the first week of classes.

6.2 This information should include the purpose of the Committee, the frequency of meetings, how to nominate and election procedures.

6.3 If there is no formal Student Staff Consultative Committee for a program, the School should advise students of the alternative mechanism through which the rationale and functions of Student Staff Consultative Committees are to be achieved.

Program Leader/Head of School

By end of Week 1 of classes

7.1 Student and staff representatives will have access to training and/or resources to enhance their effectiveness as advocates and active participants in Committee deliberations.

Manager Student Engagement & Leadership

Week 3 of classes

7.3 Student representatives who want training should register their intent online at Student Staff Consultative Committees Training

Students

Following nomination

8.1 Wherever possible, the first meeting should be held no later than Week 4 of Semester 1.

8.2 Meetings should be held at least twice in each semester.

Chairperson

Week 4

9.1 The Committee reports to the Academic College Students’ Committee.

Secretary

Within 5 working days

9.3 Schools provide an annual report to the Academic College Board and University Students’ Committee summarising examples of good practice and improvements arising from the operation of Student Staff Consultative Committees and identifying systemic issues that need to be addressed by the Academic College.

Head of School

February